Alignment guide for inspecting a fiber optic end face

ABSTRACT

An optical fiber inspection system may include an alignment guide having a sleeve portion and a mechanical key structure. The sleeve portion may comprise a first opening arranged to be proximal to one or more optical components in an inspection device and a second opening arranged to be distal to the one or more optical components when the alignment guide is removably engaged with the inspection device. The mechanical key structure may be located adjacent to the second opening and have a shape to engage a geometry of one or more recesses in a bulkhead. Accordingly, the alignment guide may stabilize the inspection device at a particular angle relative to an end face of an object in a field of view of the one or more optical components when a shaft of the inspection device is inserted into the bulkhead.

BACKGROUND

A microscope may include an instrument used to see objects that are toosmall to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy may include investigatingsmall objects and structures using a microscope. A microscope mayinclude an optical microscope, which uses light passed through a sampleto produce an image, a fluorescence microscope, an electron microscope,a scanning probe microscope, and/or the like. In some cases, amicroscope may be used to analyze optical fibers of an optical cable.

SUMMARY

According to some implementations, an optical fiber inspection systemmay include an inspection device and an alignment guide. The inspectiondevice may include a housing containing one or more optical componentsto capture an image of an end face of an optical fiber in a field ofview of the one or more optical components and a shaft, integrated withthe housing, arranged to be inserted into a bulkhead connected to theoptical fiber. The shaft may provide an optical path from the one ormore optical components to the end face of the optical fiber. Thealignment guide may include a sleeve portion comprising a first openingon a first end of the sleeve portion that is proximal to the one or moreoptical components and a second opening on a second end of the sleeveportion that is distal to the one or more optical components. Thealignment guide may include a mechanical key structure adjacent to thesecond opening on the second end of the sleeve portion that is distal tothe one or more optical components. The mechanical key structure mayhave a shape to engage a geometry of the bulkhead and stabilize theinspection device at a particular angle relative to the end face of theoptical fiber while the shaft is inserted into the bulkhead.

According to some implementations, a device may include a sleeve portioncomprising a first opening on a first end of the sleeve portion and asecond opening on a second end of the sleeve portion. The first openingmay be arranged to be proximal to one or more optical components in aninspection device and the second opening may be arranged to be distal tothe one or more optical components in the inspection device when thedevice is removably engaged with the inspection device. The device mayinclude a mechanical key structure adjacent to the second opening,wherein the mechanical key structure may have a shape to engage ageometry of one or more recesses in a bulkhead, and to stabilize theinspection device at a particular angle relative to an end face of anobject in a field of view of the one or more optical components when ashaft of the inspection device is inserted into the bulkhead.

According to some implementations, an optical fiber inspection systemmay include an inspection device, a microscope, and an alignment guide.The inspection device may comprise one or more optical components tocapture an image of an end face of an optical fiber positioned in abulkhead within a field of view of the one or more optical components.The microscope may be arranged to interface with the one or more opticalcomponents in the inspection device and to process the image of the endface of the optical fiber. The alignment guide may include a sleeveportion comprising a first opening and a second opening used to insert ashaft of the inspection device through the sleeve portion. The alignmentguide may include a mechanical key structure, integrated with the sleeveportion, that may have a shape to engage a geometry of the bulkhead andstabilize the inspection device at an imaging axis offset angle relativeto the end face of the optical fiber while the end face of the opticalfiber is visible within the field of view of the one or more opticalcomponents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D are diagrams of one or more example implementationsdescribed herein.

FIGS. 2A-2D are diagrams of one or more example bulkhead configurationsrelated to an alignment guide to be used in an optical fiber inspectionsystem described herein.

FIGS. 3A-3B are diagrams of one or more example implementations using analignment guide described herein in an optical fiber inspection system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings may identify the same or similar elements.

A technician may use a device, such as a handheld optical fibermicroscope, to inspect an end face of an optical fiber of an opticalcable prior to connecting the optical cable to network equipment. Forexample, the optical fiber may be placed in a field of view of thedevice, and the device may capture images, live video, and/or the like,of an end face of the optical fiber so that the device (and/or anotherdevice) may analyze the images for dirt particles, dust particles,scratches, and/or other surface defects. The device may need to capturea high-quality image of the end face of the optical fiber in order toperform an accurate analysis of the end face. For example, in order toenable an accurate analysis of the end face, the end face should becentered and in focus in the image, and there should be sufficientlighting to ensure that any dirt particles, dust particles, scratches,fingerprints, debris, and/or other surface defects are able to bedetected when the image of the end face is analyzed.

In some cases, capturing a sufficiently high-quality image may bedifficult because the end face of the optical fiber may be placed in alocation that is difficult or awkward to reach. For example, the opticalfiber is typically enclosed in a fiber optic cable, which may include aconnector to terminate the fiber optic cable. The connector may beinserted or otherwise attached to another device, such as a bulkhead ina fiber optic enclosure, patch panel, or other fixture that acts as atermination unit to organize and distribute fiber optic cables andbranches, terminate cable elements, provide a secure organized chamberto house connectors and splice units, and/or the like. Accordingly, inorder to capture the high-quality image, the handheld optical fibermicroscope may include or otherwise interface with an inspection tip(e.g., a stainless-steel tube that houses one or more opticalcomponents) that is placed into the bulkhead.

In general, a positioning of the inspection tip laterally and axiallyrelative to the end face of the optical fiber being inspected should beas close to perpendicular as possible to obtain the sufficientlyhigh-quality image. However, there tends to be a substantial amount ofplay, allowance, space, and/or the like between the inspection tip andthe bulkhead, which creates instability in the image of the end facebeing inspected. For example, due to the space between the inspectiontip and the bulkhead, the technician operating the handheld opticalfiber microscope may have a difficult time stabilizing the inspectiontip at the correct angle, and may thus have a difficult time capturingan image that is in focus and centered on the end face to be inspectedwith sufficient lighting to ensure that any dirt, scratches, debris,and/or the like that are present on the end face will be visible in thecaptured image.

Some implementations described herein relate to an alignment guide thatcan be placed on an inspection tip that interfaces with a microscopeused to analyze an image of an end face of an optical fiber. Thealignment guide may act as a mechanical guide for the inspection tip,allowing a technician or other user to easily position and stabilize theinspection tip at a position (e.g., an angle) relative to the end facefrom which a high-quality image can be captured. For example, thealignment guide may include a mechanical key structure that has a shapeto establish a high-quality registration between mechanics of theinspection tip and a geometry of the bulkhead and to stabilize theinspection tip at the correct orientation (e.g., relative to thebulkhead and the end face visible in the bulkhead). Furthermore, in someimplementations, the alignment guide can rotate freely around asubstantially cylindrical surface of the inspection tip in order to movethe alignment guide between different positions where the alignmentguide engages or otherwise provides a mechanical registration with theinspection tip (e.g., a flattened portion of the substantiallycylindrical surface). Furthermore, the alignment guide may be removablefrom the inspection tip, which may allow the alignment guide to bereplaced with another alignment guide that has a mechanical keystructure with a different shape (e.g., when using the inspection tip ina bulkhead associated with a different connector type).

In this way, the alignment guide enables the technician or other user toquickly and easily position the inspection tip at an optimal orientationrelative to the end face of the optical fiber and maintain theinspection tip at the optimal orientation without dependence on a skillof the technician or user. In this way, computing resources (e.g.,processing resources, memory resources, and/or the like) used tocapture, store, view, analyze, and/or otherwise use images of end facesto be inspected are conserved because a probability of the technician oruser capturing an unfocused image, an uncentered image, a poorly lightedimage, and/or the like is reduced. In addition, because the alignmentguide is rotatable between different positions to accommodate differentpositionings, configurations, and/or the like in which bulkheads arearranged, and removable to allow the alignment guide to be swapped outfor different bulkheads that may have different geometries, anefficiency of analyzing multiple optical cables with different polishes,different optical connectors, and/or the like is improved. This mayfurther improve a throughput of a technician with regard to a quantityof optical cables (of potentially different configurations) that thetechnician can inspect within a period of time, and/or the like.

FIGS. 1A-1D are diagrams of one or more example implementations 100described herein. As shown in FIG. 1A, example implementation(s) 100 mayinclude an optical cable 110 that includes one or more optical fibers,and an optical connector 112 that is attached to the optical cable 110.The optical fiber may be mounted in an interstitial material within theoptical connector 112 connected to the optical cable 110. For example,the optical cable 110 may include a ferrule made from metal, ceramic,high-quality plastic, and/or the like, and the ferrule may have ahollowed-out center that forms a tight grip on the optical fiber.Furthermore, the optical connector 112 may include a connector body,which is usually constructed from metal or plastic, and the connectorbody may provide a structure to hold the ferrule and attach to a jacketof the optical cable 110 to strengthen members of the optical cable 110.In general, there are various configurations that can be used for theoptical connector 112. For example, the optical connector 112 may be anLC connector often used in high-density applications, an SC connectorthat offers high performance, an FC connector with a round screw-typefitment suitable for use in high-vibration environments, an ST connectorwith a bayonet fitment, an MTP or MPO connector that can house multiple(e.g., up to 24) optical fibers in a single ferrule, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the optical connector 112 may further include acoupling mechanism that is used to hold the optical connector 112 inplace when attached to another device, such as a bulkhead 114. As notedabove, there are various configurations and/or connector types that canbe used for the optical connector 112, and the various configurationsand/or connector types may have fitments with different types and/orshapes (e.g., latch clips, screw-on fitments, bayonet fitments, and/orthe like). Accordingly, the bulkhead 114 may have a geometry that isdesigned to mate with the coupling mechanism of the optical connector112, whereby physical characteristics of the bulkhead 114 (e.g., shape,size, pattern, and/or the like) may vary depending on the type of theoptical connector 112 to be attached to the bulkhead 114.

As further shown in FIG. 1A, example implementation(s) 100 includes anoptical fiber inspection system 120, which may include a microscope 130(e.g., a video microscope or probe), an inspection tip 140 that has oneor more optical components housed therein, and an alignment guide 150that has a shape to mate, interface, register, or otherwise engage withmechanics of the inspection tip 140 and the bulkhead 114, as describedin further detail elsewhere herein.

In some implementations, the microscope 130 may include one or morecomponents to analyze an image of an end face of the optical fiberenclosed in the optical cable 110 when the optical connector 112 isinserted into the bulkhead 114. For example, the inspection tip 140 maybe placed into one end of the bulkhead 114 to inspect the end face ofthe optical fiber when the optical connector 112 is inserted into anopposite end of the bulkhead 114. As mentioned above, the inspection tip140 may include one or more optical components (e.g., lenses, mirrors,filters, polarizers, and/or the like) that enable the microscope 130 toobtain (e.g., capture) one or more images of the end face of the opticalfiber and/or to analyze the end face of the optical fiber when theoptical connector 112 and the inspection tip 140 are inserted intoopposite sides of the bulkhead 114. However, as mentioned above, theremay be a substantial amount of play, allowance, space, and/or the likebetween the inspection tip 140 and the bulkhead 114, which may lead toinstability in the image of the end face being inspected. Accordingly,the alignment guide 150 may be structured to establish a high-qualityregistration between a mechanical structure of the inspection tip 140and the geometry of the bulkhead 114, which may allow a user to positionthe inspection tip 140 in an orientation that enables the microscope 130to obtain a high-quality image of the end face of the optical fiber.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, and by reference number 160, theoptical connector 112 may be inserted into the bulkhead 114. Forexample, depending on the type of the optical connector 112, the opticalconnector 112 may snap into or otherwise mate with a geometry of thebulkhead 114. As further shown in FIG. 1B, and by reference number 162,the inspection tip 140 may be installed on the microscope 130. Forexample, in some implementations, the inspection tip 140 may screw ontothe microscope 130 or otherwise interface with the microscope 130.Accordingly, once the optical connector 112 has been inserted into thebulkhead 114 and the inspection tip 140 has been installed onto themicroscope 130, the various components in implementation(s) 100 may bearranged as shown in FIG. 1C.

As further shown in FIG. 1C, the alignment guide 150 includes amechanical key structure 152 that has a shape to engage a geometry ofthe bulkhead 114 and stabilize the inspection tip 140 at a particularangle relative to the end face of the optical fiber while the inspectiontip 140 is inserted into the bulkhead 114. Furthermore, as shown in FIG.1C, the alignment guide 150 includes a sleeve portion with an opening154 used to pass the inspection tip 140 through the alignment guide 150.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1C, and by reference number 164, thealignment guide 150 may be placed on the inspection tip 140 via theopening 154. As further shown in FIG. 1C, and by reference number 166,the mechanical key structure 152 may be inserted into one or morerecesses of the bulkhead 114 to secure and stabilize the inspection tip140 at a particular angle that is suitable for capturing a high-qualityimage of the end face of the optical fiber.

For example, FIG. 1D illustrates a resulting arrangement after thealignment guide 150 has been placed onto the inspection tip 140. Asshown, the inspection tip 140 includes a housing that contains the oneor more optical components and a shaft 142 that is integrated with thehousing and arranged to be inserted into the bulkhead 114 connected tothe optical fiber. The shaft 142, which may have a cylindrical shape asshown in the illustrated example, includes an opening 144 that providesan optical path from the one or more optical components to the end faceof the optical fiber. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1D, the inspectiontip 140 includes an interface 146 for connecting the inspection tip 140to the microscope 130.

As further shown in FIG. 1D, the alignment guide 150 includes a sleeveportion with openings on either end to allow the alignment guide 150 beplaced onto the inspection tip 140 (e.g., by passing the shaft 142through the sleeve portion). In some implementations, the mechanical keystructure 152 of the alignment guide 150 may be located adjacent to theopening of the sleeve portion that is distal to the one or more opticalcomponents. Furthermore, as shown, the mechanical key structure 152 hasa shape to engage a geometry of the bulkhead 114 and stabilize theinspection tip 140 at a particular angle relative to the end face of theoptical fiber while the shaft 142 is inserted into the bulkhead 114.

In some implementations, the alignment guide 150 may be rotated about anaxis of the inspection tip 140 (e.g., up to 180 degrees) to enable atechnician or other user to hold the microscope 130 at a particularangle relative to the end face of the optical fiber being inspected. Forexample, there may be multiple positions for the alignment guide 150that can establish the particular angle, and the shaft 142 may includeone or more flattened portions or other machined portions that allow thealignment guide 150 to be rotated along the axis of the inspection tip140. Accordingly, the alignment guide 150 can be rotated around theshaft 142 and the mechanical key structure 152 may be shaped to engageor otherwise interface with the flattened or machined portions to holdthe alignment guide 150 (and thus the inspection tip 140) at theparticular angle at which a sufficiently high-quality image can beobtained. In this way, the alignment guide 150 can be rotated betweendifferent positions where the angle will position the optical componentsin the inspection tip 140 at a suitable orientation to obtain ahigh-quality (e.g., focused, centered, and well-lit) image of the endface being inspected.

In some implementations, as further shown in FIG. 1D, the alignmentguide 150 may include a visual indicator 156 to aid the technician oruser in aligning the shape of the mechanical key structure 152 with thegeometry of the recesses in the bulkhead 114. For example, as shown inFIG. 1D, the visual indicator 156 may be structured as a depressionformed in the sleeve portion of the alignment guide 150 adjacent to orin close proximity to a portion of the mechanical key structure 152 tobe inserted into the bulkhead 114. Additionally, or alternatively, thevisual indicator 156 may be another visual element, such as a reflector,a visual feature painted on the alignment guide 150, and/or the like. Inthis way, the visual indicator 156 may help the technician or user toquickly and easily align the mechanical key structure 152 with thebulkhead 114, which improves throughput and/or efficiency of thetechnician or user.

In some implementations, as further shown in FIG. 1D, the alignmentguide 150 includes a relief element 158 on a side of the sleeve portion.For example, the optical fiber inspection system 120 that includes themicroscope 130, the inspection tip 140, and the alignment guide 150 maybe used to inspect fiber end faces in environments where there isanother connector adjacent to the bulkhead 114 in which the inspectiontip 140 is inserted. Accordingly, the relief element 158 may provideclearance to avoid impacting or otherwise contacting one or more objectsthat may be connected to or otherwise in proximity to the adjacentconnector. In this way, the relief element 158 may avoid damage to fiberoptic equipment in tight spaces, allow multiple inspection tips 140 andalignment guides 150 to be used to simultaneously inspect end faces inadjacent bulkheads 114, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the alignment guide 150 may be made from one ormore thermoplastic materials that are durable and stable yet relativelysoft to avoid damaging the bulkhead 114, the inspection tip 140, and/orother sensitive fiber optic equipment despite a tight fit. For example,in some implementations, the alignment guide 150 may be constructed froma polycarbonate material, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)material, an acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) material, apolycarbonate-ABS blend, and/or the like. In this way, the alignmentguide 150 may exhibit high impact resistance, mechanical toughness,durability, deformation without cracking or breaking, and/or the like.Furthermore, because the thermoplastic materials can tolerate somedeformation and/or bending, using the thermoplastic materials to formthe alignment guide 150 may enable a high-quality registration betweenthe alignment guide 150, the inspection tip 140, and the bulkhead 114without causing damage to the bulkhead 114, the inspection tip 140,and/or other sensitive fiber optic equipment.

In some implementations, as shown in FIG. 1D, the mechanical keystructure 152 has a shape that is designed to mate with the bulkhead 114when the bulkhead 114 has a geometry to accept an LC-type connector.However, the mechanical key structure 152 can have a different shape tomate with the geometry of bulkheads 114 that are designed for otherconnector types (e.g., SC connectors, FC connectors, ST connectors, MTPor MPO connectors, and/or the like). Accordingly, the alignment guide150 may be easily removable from the inspection tip 140, which may allowfor the alignment guide 150 to be removed and replaced with anotheralignment guide 150 to be mated with the geometry of the particularbulkhead 114. For example, the technician or user may have a set ofalignment guides 150 that have differently shaped mechanical keystructures 152, and the technician or user may choose the particularalignment guide 150 to be used depending on the particular geometry ofthe bulkhead 114.

As indicated above, FIGS. 1A-1D are provided merely as one or moreexamples. Other examples may differ from what is described with regardto FIGS. 1A-1D. In practice, there may be additional components, fewercomponents, different components, or differently arranged componentsthan those shown in FIGS. 1A-1D.

FIGS. 2A-2D are diagrams of one or more example bulkhead configurations200 related to an alignment guide to be used in an optical fiberinspection system described herein. For example, FIGS. 2A-2D generallyillustrate various perspectives of an arrangement in which the opticalconnector 112 attached to the optical cable 110 is inserted into thebulkhead 114, and the inspection tip 140 is to be inserted into anopposite end of the bulkhead 114 to inspect an end face of the opticalconnector 112, the optical cable 110, an optical fiber carried in theoptical cable 110, and/or the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A,and by reference number 210-1, the bulkhead 114 has a particularinterface geometry that is shaped to mate with the mechanical keystructure 152 of the alignment guide 150 as shown in FIG. 1D.Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2A, and by reference number 210-2, a keyof the bulkhead 114 is located in a consistent position relative to apolish angle that satisfies a threshold value (e.g., a polish angle thatfalls within a range where there is likely to be sufficient lighting toobtain a high-quality image).

FIG. 2B depicts another perspective of the bulkhead geometry to be matedor otherwise engaged by the mechanical key structure 152 of thealignment guide 150. For example, as shown, the bulkhead geometry 210has a shape that substantially matches the shape of the mechanical keystructure 152, ensuring that the inspection tip 140 is stabilized at apolish angle where there is likely to be sufficient lighting to obtain ahigh-quality image. As further shown in FIG. 2B, and by reference number220, an end face to be inspected is exposed inside the bulkhead 114,whereby the opening 144 in the shaft 142 of the inspection tip 140 maybe placed near or around the end face to be inspected, providing anoptical path from the optical components in the inspection tip 140and/or the microscope 130 to the end face.

FIG. 2C depicts another (side view) perspective of the bulkhead 114 withthe optical connector 112 inserted therein. As shown in FIG. 2C, and byreference number 210, the mechanical key structure 152 of the alignmentguide 150 may be inserted into the interface of the bulkhead 114 whilethe alignment guide 150 is placed on the inspection tip 140 to stabilizethe inspection tip 140 at a suitable angle relative to the end face tobe inspected.

For example, FIG. 2D depicts an example cross-sectional view of thebulkhead 114 with the optical connector 112 inserted therein. As shownin FIG. 2D, reference number 230 represents a mechanical centerline ofthe optical connector 112 and the bulkhead 114, and reference number 232depicts a minimum imaging axis offset at which there is likely to besufficient lighting to obtain a high-quality image of the end face beinginspected (e.g., approximately 1.25 degrees from the mechanicalcenterline corresponding to reference number 230). Furthermore, as shownin FIG. 2D, reference number 234 depicts a face polish angle with anideal imaging axis offset assuming no mechanical constraints. Forexample, in the case of an Angled Physical Contact (APC) connector, theideal imaging axis offset may be approximately 8.0 degrees from themechanical centerline corresponding to reference number 230.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2D, and by reference number 240, thealignment guide 150 may stabilize the inspection tip 140 at an anglethat satisfies a threshold value, which may be in a range between theminimum imaging axis offset and the ideal imaging axis offset. Asfurther shown in FIG. 2D, and by reference number 242, a secondconnector may be removed to allow inspection of the connector 112 in thebulkhead 114. In this way, the alignment guide 150 may ensure that theinspection tip 140 is stabilized at a suitable angle relative to the endface being inspected.

As indicated above, FIGS. 2A-2D are provided merely as one or moreexamples. Other examples may differ from what is described with regardto FIGS. 2A-2D. In practice, there may be additional components, fewercomponents, different components, or differently arranged componentsthan those shown in FIGS. 2A-2D.

FIGS. 3A-3B are diagrams of one or more example implementations 300using an alignment guide described herein in an optical fiber inspectionsystem described herein. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the alignmentguide 150 is positioned on the inspection tip 140 and the mechanical keystructure 152 has been inserted into the bulkhead 114. Accordingly, asshown in FIG. 3A, and by reference number 310, the alignment guide 150may engage the geometry of the bulkhead 114 to stabilize the inspectiontip 140 and thus stabilize the image of the end face being inspected.Furthermore, the alignment guide 150 may engage the geometry of thebulkhead 114 to stabilize the inspection tip 140 at an optical offsetangle that satisfies a threshold value (e.g., an angle in a rangebetween the minimum imaging axis offset and the ideal imaging axisoffset, as shown in FIG. 2D). In this way, the optical offset angle atwhich the inspection tip 140 is stabilized may obtain a high-qualityimage that satisfies imaging performance constraints while alsocompensating for mechanical constraints. Furthermore, in the exampleshown in FIG. 3A, the relief element 158 of the alignment guide 150allows for another connector, inspection tip, and/or other objects to beinserted into or positioned near an adjacent connector of the bulkhead114 without contacting the alignment guide 150.

As shown in FIG. 3B, and by reference number 320, the alignment guide150 can be rotated to an alternate position that also allows theinspection tip 140 to be stabilized at a suitable angle between theminimum imaging axis offset and the ideal imaging axis offset. Forexample, in FIG. 3B, the alignment guide 150 has been rotated 180degrees from the position shown in FIG. 3A. In this way, by allowing thealignment guide 150 to be rotated between different angles where theinspection tip 140 will be stabilized at a position where a high-qualityimage can be obtained, the alignment guide 150 may enable accurateinspection of fiber end faces even in environments where the bulkhead114 may be mounted in a position that would otherwise impede use of themicroscope 130 and the inspection tip 140.

As indicated above, FIGS. 3A-3B are provided merely as one or moreexamples. Other examples may differ from what is described with regardto FIGS. 3A-3B. In practice, there may be additional components, fewercomponents, different components, or differently arranged componentsthan those shown in FIGS. 3A-3B.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made inlight of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of theimplementations.

As used herein, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

As used herein, satisfying a threshold may, depending on the context,refer to a value being greater than the threshold, more than thethreshold, higher than the threshold, greater than or equal to thethreshold, less than the threshold, fewer than the threshold, lower thanthe threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to thethreshold, or the like.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may beimplemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or a combinationof hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware orsoftware code used to implement these systems and/or methods is notlimiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of thesystems and/or methods are described herein without reference tospecific software code—it being understood that software and hardwarecan be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on thedescription herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact,many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recitedin the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, thedisclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim incombination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, asused herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more itemsreferenced in connection with the article “the” and may be usedinterchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, theterm “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., relateditems, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items,and/or the like), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.”Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similarlanguage is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,”“having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, thephrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or”is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be usedinterchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g.,if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”).

1. An optical fiber inspection system, comprising: an inspection device,wherein the inspection device includes: a housing containing one or moreoptical components to capture an image of an end face of an opticalfiber in a field of view of the one or more optical components; and ashaft, integrated with the housing, arranged to be inserted into abulkhead connected to the optical fiber, wherein the shaft provides anoptical path from the one or more optical components to the end face ofthe optical fiber; and an alignment guide, wherein the alignment guideincludes: a sleeve portion comprising a first opening on a first end ofthe sleeve portion that is proximal to the one or more opticalcomponents and a second opening on a second end of the sleeve portionthat is distal to the one or more optical components; and a mechanicalkey structure adjacent to the second opening on the second end of thesleeve portion that is distal to the one or more optical components,wherein the mechanical key structure has a shape to engage a geometry ofthe bulkhead and stabilize the inspection device at a particular anglerelative to the end face of the optical fiber while the shaft isinserted into the bulkhead.
 2. The optical fiber inspection system ofclaim 1, wherein the particular angle is displaced from a mechanicalcenterline of the bulkhead according to an offset that satisfies athreshold.
 3. The optical fiber inspection system of claim 2, whereinthe alignment guide is rotatable between a first position thatstabilizes the inspection device at the particular angle relative to theend face of the optical fiber and a second position that stabilizes theinspection device at an alternate angle that satisfies the threshold. 4.The optical fiber inspection system of claim 1, wherein the alignmentguide is made from one or more thermoplastic materials.
 5. The opticalfiber inspection system of claim 1, wherein the alignment guide is to beremovably secured on the inspection device by passing the shaft throughthe first opening on the first end of the sleeve portion and positioningthe mechanical key structure to provide a registration with a flattenedportion of the shaft.
 6. The optical fiber inspection system of claim 1,wherein the alignment guide includes a visual indicator to align theshape of the mechanical key structure with the geometry of the bulkhead.7. The optical fiber inspection system of claim 1, wherein the sleeveportion of the alignment guide includes a relief element to avoidcontact between the alignment guide and one or more objects positionedadjacent to the inspection device or the alignment guide.
 8. The opticalfiber inspection system of claim 1, further comprising: a microscope toprocess the image of the end face of the optical fiber, wherein theinspection device further includes: an interface to provide a connectionbetween the one or more optical components and the microscope to processthe image of the end face of the optical fiber.
 9. A device, comprising:a sleeve portion comprising: a first opening on a first end of thesleeve portion; and a second opening on a second end of the sleeveportion, wherein the first opening is arranged to be proximal to one ormore optical components in an inspection device and the second openingis arranged to be distal to the one or more optical components in theinspection device when the device is removably engaged with theinspection device; and a mechanical key structure adjacent to the secondopening, wherein the mechanical key structure has a shape to engage ageometry of one or more recesses in a bulkhead and to stabilize theinspection device at a particular angle relative to an end face of anobject in a field of view of the one or more optical components when ashaft of the inspection device is inserted into the bulkhead.
 10. Thedevice of claim 9, wherein the device is rotatable between a firstposition that stabilizes the inspection device at the particular anglerelative to the end face of the object and a second position thatstabilizes the inspection device at an alternate angle.
 11. The deviceof claim 9, wherein the sleeve portion and the mechanical key structureare made from one or more thermoplastic materials.
 12. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the one or more thermoplastic materials include atleast one of a polycarbonate material, an acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS) material, or an acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA)material.
 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is to beremovably engaged with the inspection device by passing the shaft of theinspection device through the first opening on the first end of thesleeve portion and engaging the mechanical key structure in a positionthat provides a registration with a flattened portion of the shaft. 14.The device of claim 9, further comprising: a visual indicator to alignthe shape of the mechanical key structure with the geometry of the oneor more recesses in the bulkhead.
 15. The device of claim 14, whereinthe visual indicator is a depression formed in the sleeve portion. 16.The device of claim 9, wherein the sleeve portion includes a reliefelement to avoid contact between the device and one or more objectspositioned in proximity to the bulkhead.
 17. An optical fiber inspectionsystem, comprising: an inspection device comprising one or more opticalcomponents to capture an image of an end face of an optical fiberpositioned in a bulkhead within a field of view of the one or moreoptical components; a microscope to interface with the one or moreoptical components in the inspection device and to process the image ofthe end face of the optical fiber; and an alignment guide, wherein thealignment guide includes: a sleeve portion comprising a first openingand a second opening to insert a shaft of the inspection device throughthe sleeve portion; and a mechanical key structure, integrated with thesleeve portion, wherein the mechanical key structure has a shape toengage a geometry of the bulkhead and stabilize the inspection device atan imaging axis offset angle relative to the end face of the opticalfiber while the end face of the optical fiber is visible within thefield of view of the one or more optical components.
 18. The opticalfiber inspection system of claim 17, wherein the alignment guide isremovable from the inspection device after the shaft of the inspectiondevice has been inserted through the sleeve portion.
 19. The opticalfiber inspection system of claim 17, wherein the alignment guide isrotatable between a first position that stabilizes the imaging axisoffset angle and a second position that stabilizes the inspection deviceat the imaging axis offset angle.
 20. The optical fiber inspectionsystem of claim 19, wherein the imaging axis offset angle is in a rangethat causes the image to satisfy a set of performance constraints.